Audit Says Child Support Collections Need Improvement

Jefferson City, MO – A new state audit says Missouri failed tocollect about one billion dollars in child support payments during a five-year period.

The report out today also says the state should be more aggressive about getting money from non-custodial parents.

State Auditor Claire McCaskill's office says that between 1996 and 2001, the state Division of Child Support Enforcement collected about 20 percent of child support payments due to 538,000 custodial parents in Missouri.

The Missouri collection rate is similar to national figures -- but auditors found several weaknesses affecting the state's ability to boost collections.